HALIFAX, Nova Scotia - Despite a third-period rally, the U.S. Men's National Team fell to Finland, 3-2, in overtime here tonight in the quarterfinals of the 72nd annual International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship.

"I thought we played well," said John Tortorella, head coach of Team USA. "We didn't give up a lot and neither did they. We took over in the third period and came back to tie it. It's hard to lose, but I'm proud of our team and their effort throughout the tournament."

Finland took a 1-0 lead just past the half-way point of the opening stanza when Tuomo Ruutu slid a backhanded shot between the pads of netminder Robert Esche (Utica, N.Y./Ak Bars Kazan) at 10:14.

In the second period, the Finland doubled its lead while on the power play. Olli Jokinen fed Janne Niskala for a one-timer from the top of the right faceoff circle at 5:45. Esche made 17 saves in the period to keep the score 2-0 at the end of 40 minutes.

Phil Kessel (Madison, Wis./Boston Bruins/University of Minnesota) and Drew Stafford(Milwaukee, Wis./Buffalo Sabres/University of North Dakota) scored in the final 4:05 of the third period to force overtime. With each team skating a man down, Kessel redirected a slap shot by Tim Gleason (Clawson, Mich./Carolina Hurricanes) past Niklas Backstrom to cut the deficit in half at 15:55. Just 37 seconds later, Stafford scored shorthanded on a wrist shot from the right dot after a feed from Adam Burish (Madison, Wis./Chicago Blackhawks/University of Wisconsin). The U.S. was forced to kill a five-on-three Finland power play in the final three minutes of regulation to force overtime.

After back and forth action in the extra frame, Finland's Sami Lepisto tallied the game-winning goal at 3:59 with a hard shot from right point and Saku Koivu providing the screen in front of Esche.

Esche made 30 saves and was named Team USA's Player of the Game.

The U.S. Men's National Team finished with a 4-0-0-3 record and placed fifth in the tournament.

NOTES: ForwardsDustin Brown (Ithaca, N.Y./L.A. Kigs) and Zach Parise (Minneapolis, Minn./New Jersey Devils/University of North Dakota) and defenseman Paul Martin(Minneapolis, Minn./New Jersey Devils/University of Minnesota) were named Team USA's best players of the tournament ... Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y./Chicago Blackhawks/3-7--10) and Phil Kessel (6-4--10) led Team USA with 10 points each. Kessel led the team with six goals, while Kane and Martin paced the squad with seven assists each.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

USA 0 0 2 0 2
FIN 1 1 0 1 3

First Period - Scoring: 1, FIN Ruutu (O. Jokinen), 10:14. Penalties: FIN, Selanne (hooking), 12:55; USA, Brown (interference), 17:31.

Second Period - Scoring: 2, FIN Niskala (Jokinen, Selanne), 5:45. Penalties: USA, Greene (high-sticking), 5:24; USA, Leopold (hooking), 8:19; FIN, Salmela (holding), 11:49.

Third Period - Scoring: 3, USA Kessel (Gleason), 15:44 (4x4); 4, USA Stafford (Burish), 16:21 (sh). Penalties: FIN, Luoma (interference) 7:28; FIN, Jokela (tripping), 14:01; USA, Brown (slashing), 15:22; USA, Stafford (hooking), 17:05.

Overtime - Scoring: 5, FIN Lepisto (Koivu, Selanne), 3:59. Penalties: None.

Shots by Period 1 2 3 OT Total
USA   8 3 12 1 24
FIN   6 18 5 4 33
     
Goaltenders (SH/SV)   1 2 3 OT Total
USA, Esche, 63:59   6-5 18-17 5-5 4-3 33-30
FIN, Backstrom, 63:59   8-8 3-3 12-10 1-1 24-22

Power Play: USA 0-4, FIN 1-5
Penalties: USA 5-10, FIN 4-8
Officials: Referees - Christer Larking, Marcus Vinnerborg; Linesmen - Sylvan Losier, Fredrik Ulriksson
Attendance: 9,176